The program gives amnesty to first-time, non-violent offenders provided they abide by conditions set forth in an agreement with prosecutors. Those conditions can include community service, avoiding drugs and alcohol, obtaining a high school diploma or GED, counseling, job training, paying restitution to the victim, taking anger management classes, and writing a letter of apology to the victim. They also must agree to a recorded confession to be used during prosecution if they fail to complete the program. A volunteer community panel screens applicants to determine if they qualify for the program.

"We can't prosecute away our ills, we have to recognize that justice is a coin with two sides, there is the punishment side and the mercy side," Bruscato said.

Those admitted to the program would likely have ended up in probation if convicted, Bruscato said. He said the deferred prosecution program will give probation-like oversight but keep the offender from having a conviction on his or her record, which will make it easier to land a job and avoid a cycle of crime. The program is also designed to reduce the jail population and caseloads in courtrooms.

The Rockford Ministers Fellowship will host a seminar with Bruscato at Macedonia Baptist Church on Saturday in an effort to raise awareness for the program.

"Sometimes the system if very harsh," Rev. Karen King said. "As many people as we can assist in not ending up in the prison system for nonviolent offenses the better it is for people and for our community."

Bruscato's office already had other diversion programs like its drug school for young, first-time offenders who would otherwise face charges for low-level drug possession or minor drinking.

"The courtrooms should be reserved for violent offenders that clearly need to face the possibility of incarceration," Bruscato said. "There is a strong population in the criminal justice system that can go through these alternative paths."

Bruscato looked to Kane County as a model for how the program would work locally. Last year, 850 people applied to participate in Kane County's program, which can last between 12 and 18 months. It also had 545 graduates from the program. There were 149 who failed to meet the requirements, which means they were then prosecuted for whatever charge they initially faced.

Roughly 80 percent of the 5,000-plus participants successfully completed Kane County's program since it launched in 1995, according to the Kane County State's Attorney's office.